EAST Kilbride’s football fraternity is in mourning this week following the death of Westwood Rovers football club founding member Jimmy Thomson.

Described by close friends as ‘Mr Westwood,’ the 63-year-old helped form the club in 1990 and was instrumental in the development of such players as Craig Bryson and David Proctor, who have gone on to play professionally at English Championship side Derby and SPL outfit Inverness Caley Thistle, respectively.

Jimmy died peacefully at Hairmyres Hospital last Tuesday (February 15).

He is survived by his wife Frances and sons Michael and Trevor.

Jimmy has left a lasting football legacy as well, having brought through many players and helping ensure Westwood Rovers Boys Club will be around for a long time to come.

In 1990 – along with Craig Chaplain, Paul Cunningham and Robert Orr – Rovers’ foundations were laid and the club has gone on to be one of the most productive in the country.

Robert Orr, who served as a coach alongside Jimmy in those early years, told the News: “All the boys at Westwood Rovers looked up to Jimmy and if ever they needed any advice, Jimmy was there for them. He really was Mr Westwood and he put a lot of time into the club in its first 15 years.

“After that he decided to step back a bit and let others have their turn, but he continued to follow the club and help out when he could.

“If it wasn’t for him there wouldn’t have been a Westwood Rovers and the amount of boys he helped bring through was fantastic.

“These guys are all playing professional football now and Jimmy played a big part in their development and his legacy will be bringing those players through. Our families are very close and it’s a very difficult time for his wife Frances and his sons.”

During their tenure, Jimmy and Robert helped the club lift numerous domestic trophies as well as honours on the road.

In 1996 the club were runners-up at a tournament in Holland, where they also won the Fair Play award, and the following year they came home with the trophy from an Invitational Cup in Blackpool.

And a proud moment at home in 1998 saw the club beat Dutch side Maastricht in an invitational at the Showpark.

But Robert insists one of Jimmy’s proudest moments at the club had nothing to do with winning trophies. He revealed: “When we first started in 1990 all the boys’ teams were playing 11-a-side, but Jimmy introduced seven-a-side at Westwood before anyone else here.

“We were playing sevens before the Scottish Football Association had even thought about introducing it to youth football and that’s something Jimmy was always very proud of.

“He had the foresight to know that was the way forward before anyone else caught on.”

Trevor Thomson, Jimmy’s son, is struggling to come to terms with his father’s death but finds solace in the impact he had on the football community.

He said: “It’s still not hit me completely yet, but he was very involved with the club and the church and we’ve had great support from everyone who knew my dad.

“He kept in touch with the people at Westwood Rovers and tried to go to games when he could, but it became more difficult recently with his health impacting on that.

“My dad always took an active interest in the club as a whole and was always interested in how the former players were getting on – even the ones that didn’t make it professionally.

“Robert coached with my dad and I remember how hard they had to fight to hold on to some of the players they were bringing through.

“He was such a big part of the club and he will be sorely missed by us all.”

l A remembrance service will be held tomorrow (Thursday) at 7pm in Our Lady Of Lourdes Chapel, while Jimmy’s funeral will be held in the church on Friday with Requiem Mass beginning at 10am.